{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-demands-transparency-from-canadians-on-mine-spill-in-yukon-watershed", "Sullivan Demands Transparency from Canadians on Mine Spill in Yukon Watershed", "2024-07-30", "2024", "2024-07", "Republican", "Senate", "AK", "Dan Sullivan", "S001198", "www.sullivan.senate.gov", "sullivan", "https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) sent a letter yesterday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman urging them to provide greater transparency and a full accounting of the major cyanide spill at a Canadian gold mine last month in the Yukon Territory.\n\n\u201cI sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau raising an issue I\u2019ve been working on for years\u2014making sure Canadian transboundary mines do not negatively impact Alaska communities that are often downstream,\u201d said Sen. Sullivan. \u201cWhile we are demanding Canadian cooperation and clean-up of the recent spill at a gold mine in the Yukon Territory, we are not waiting on them. Last week, we secured a commitment from the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct water testing in Alaska\u2019s portion of the Yukon as a precautionary measure.\n\n\u201cSince coming to the Senate in 2015, I\u2019ve been intently focused on addressing the risks posed by Canadian transboundary mines on Alaskans and Alaska\u2019s marine ecosystems. In 2018, Lt. Governor Byron Mallott and I traveled to Ottawa to press the Trudeau Cabinet about the need to clean up the Tulsequah Chief Mine and other mines near Southeast. I have raised these and related issues directly with Prime Minister Trudeau before. Just two weeks ago when he was in D.C., we discussed some of the shared challenges we have regarding Yukon River king salmon runs.\n\n\u201cWhile there does not appear to be any threat to the health and safety of Alaskans at this time, we need to know what happened, what clean-up measure are being taken, and what the ongoing risks are. Mining is critically important to our economy and our national security, and it can be done without endangering our environment or the well-being of our communities. I will continue to demand greater transparency and strict oversight from the Canadians of these mining operations.\u201d\n\nBelow is the full text of Sen. Sullivan\u2019s letter.\n\nThe Right Honourable Justin Trudeau\n\nPrime Minister of Canada\n\n80 Wellington Street\n\nOttawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0A2\n\nDear Prime Minister Trudeau:\n\nI write regarding the recent cyanide spill at Victoria Gold\u2019s Eagle Mine in Yukon, Canada. As you know, I have personally raised the issue of transboundary mining and the importance of ensuring that pollutants from Canadian mines do not negatively impact Alaskan rivers numerous times since I became a Senator in 2015. This includes a trip with Alaska\u2019s Lieutenant Governor to Ottawa, where I expressed my concerns directly to members of your cabinet. This spill is a clear example of the reason for my concerns.\n\nOn June 24, part of the Eagle Mine released almost 300,000 cubic meters of cyanide solution into a sub-tributary of the Stewart Watershed. About 10 days later, high levels of cyanide\u2014which is toxic to salmon and other fish\u2014were detected in a nearby creek, and more cyanide is expected to enter that creek in the coming weeks. The Stewart Watershed encompasses one of many tributaries of the Yukon River, which flows into Alaska.\n\nThe health of our wildlife\u2014particularly salmon\u2014is of vital importance to Alaska, and in our meeting in DC earlier this month, I mentioned to you some of the challenges we are having on the Yukon River with salmon. We certainly do not want this spill to add to these challenges. Salmon are the lifeblood of my state and recent poor salmon runs, particularly on the Yukon River, have had a devastating effect on the health and livelihoods of communities all across Alaska. The introduction of more pollutants like cyanide into our streams will only increase the likelihood of poor salmon runs in the future and potentially increase health risks in our communities.\n\nIn light of these concerns, I request increased transparency and communication from senior Canadian officials regarding the Eagle Mine spill and other potential issues from Canada\u2019s abandoned, developing, and operating mine projects near the headwaters of Alaska\u2019s rivers. Specifically, I request Canada provide a detailed description of what happened to cause the Eagle Mine spill, the potential risks of the spill, and what immediate efforts Canada is making to clean the spill up completely, as well as to prevent future accidents such as these.\n\nI look forward to increased coordination between Canadian and U.S. officials on all levels to help prevent these spills and to remediate mines that are leaching into Alaska\u2019s waters. While mines are an important part of resource development, there is no need to sacrifice environmental safeguards for development.\n\nI look forward to working with you and your leadership to improve the transparency and coordination between our two nations on this pressing issue.\n\nSincerely,\n\nDan Sullivan\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:32:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-demands-transparency-from-canadians-on-mine-spill-in-yukon-watershed"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.031198004260659, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}